Opening of the Egyptian Pavilion at Gulfood Dubai Opens New Window for Export Deals in the Gulf
Opening of the Egyptian Pavilion at Gulfood Dubai Opens New Window for Export Deals in the Gulf
Ambassador Essam Ashour: Full support to turn Gulfood opportunities into partnerships
Bazan: Arab countries are the top importers of Egyptian food industries with $3.4 billion, representing 51% of total exports
Tarek El-Houby: Strong international demand reflects the rigor of Egypt’s food safety system
Essam El-Naggar: Unified pavilion identity with comprehensive sector representation
Manal Abdel Tawab: Commercial representation expands the buyer base and facilitates direct partnerships
H.E. Ambassador Essam Ashour, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Tarek El-Houby, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, Minister Plenipotentiary for Commercial Affairs Essam El-Naggar, Chairman of the Egyptian General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, Minister Plenipotentiary for Commercial Affairs Manal Abdel Tawab, Head of the Egyptian Commercial Office in Dubai, and Mahmoud Bazan, Chairman of the Food Export Council, inaugurated the Egyptian Pavilion at Gulfood Dubai. The move reflects strong institutional momentum to expand the presence of Egyptian food industries in Gulf and global markets.
The opening was attended by Dr. Ashraf El-Sayed, Deputy Chairman of the Food Export Council; Hany Afia, Treasurer of the Council; Eng. Ashraf El-Gazayerli, Chairman of the Food Industries Chamber; board members Alaa El-Wakeel, Karim Abu Ghali, Mostafa Mehanna, Dina Hosny, Ibrahim Settin; Mai Khairy, Executive Director of the Council; Heba Sohail, Exhibitions Manager at the Council; Dalia Kabil, Exhibition Consultant at Concept; Hussein Abdelmonem, Deputy Head of the Egyptian Commercial Office in Dubai; Abdelrahman Ramzy, Commercial and PR Officer at the Egyptian Commercial Office in Dubai; Khaled Abdallah, Head of the Central Marketing Department at the General Authority for Exhibitions; Dina Shafie, Head of the Audit Department; and Marwa Hammad from the External Exhibitions Department.
Participants toured the booths of exhibiting companies to review the latest products, expansion plans in Gulf markets, and targeted opportunities during the exhibition. The visit highlighted companies’ readiness to meet technical requirements and food safety standards, supporting the development of new partnerships and contracts throughout Gulfood.
Ambassador Essam Ashour emphasized that the UAE represents a key regional trade hub, noting that integration between Egyptian production capabilities and the UAE’s trade and distribution networks opens broader avenues for joint investment and market expansion. He added that the Egyptian pavilion receives strong state support, reflected in backing Egyptian companies at one of the world’s most important food trade platforms. The embassy, in cooperation with the Egyptian Commercial Service, is keen to facilitate connections between Egyptian companies and major importers, retailers, and business groups in the UAE to help transform exhibition opportunities into real partnerships and contracts.
Mahmoud Bazan, Chairman of the Food Export Council, stated that the expanded space allocated to the Egyptian pavilion and the increased number of participating companies reflect the sector’s growing capabilities and expanding exporter base. He noted that the pavilion’s large area of 1,700 square meters demonstrates Gulfood’s confidence in the Egyptian pavilion’s attractiveness to major importers, retail chains, and distributors worldwide.
Bazan explained that Gulfood Dubai is a pivotal platform for Egyptian exports, especially as Arab markets ranked as the largest importers of Egyptian food industries in 2025, with exports valued at $3.4 billion, representing 51% of total exports and achieving 5% growth compared to 2024. The European Union ranked second with $1.3 billion (19% of total exports), achieving 14% growth. Exports to non-Arab African countries reached $516 million (8%), remaining relatively stable year-on-year. Exports to the United States recorded notable performance at $438 million, with 36% growth, while exports to the rest of the world totaled $1.1 billion, achieving strong growth of 30%.
Dr. Tarek El-Houby praised the high standards of Egyptian companies and the quality of products on display, noting that the strong turnout from visitors and importers from various countries reflects the increasing competitiveness of Egyptian products and serves as practical evidence of the strict implementation of Egypt’s food safety system. This aligns with the positive results achieved by food and agricultural exports in 2025.
He added that the Authority continues to provide technical and regulatory support to help companies comply with traceability requirements and technical standards across different markets, thereby enhancing confidence in Egyptian products and strengthening their ability to access and sustain presence in high-requirement markets.
Essam El-Naggar stated that the General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, in cooperation with the Food Export Council, worked on developing a clear and unified identity for the Egyptian pavilion at Gulfood, in line with the directives of H.E. Engineer Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. The goal is to present a modern, cohesive image that reflects the strength and competitiveness of Egyptian industry. He highlighted that one of the key advantages this year is the diversity of participating companies, representing all food sectors and meeting the needs of a wide range of international buyers.
El-Naggar added that the exhibitions system receives growing institutional support from the political leadership, with significant backing from the Ministry of Investment, which enhances companies’ ability to expand in markets and improve competitiveness at international events.
Minister Plenipotentiary Manal Abdel Tawab affirmed that Egypt’s continued participation in Gulfood is a practical step toward strengthening Egypt’s export position in Gulf, Arab, and global markets. She noted that the participation reflects companies’ commitment to enhancing their competitiveness regionally and internationally, while aiming to increase Egyptian exports by up to 15% annually through global trade events and strategic partnerships in the Gulf region.
She explained that the Commercial Office supports Egyptian participation in coordination with the Food Export Council and the Exhibitions Authority by promoting Egyptian companies to UAE business communities and major Emirati importers, as well as inviting leading buyers, importers, and traders to visit the Egyptian pavilion to expand the customer base and open channels for new partnerships. She also revealed that the office has invited major importers to visit the pavilion to explore cooperation opportunities.
Gulfood brings together business opportunities, innovation, and modern trends in the food industry, making it a key platform for entities seeking to expand in food manufacturing and exports to new markets. Egypt’s participation this year is built on a wide company presence and clear integration between organizing bodies and the national food safety system.